Lisa Blaine

When you're feeling anxious, overwhelmed or stuck, it’s easy to see why you might want to ignore, distract from or try to get rid of these unpleasant feelings. This may work for a short time, but then the feelings come back.

                                            This is where I can help...

When we acknowledge and turn towards your difficult feelings together, allowing them to have the space to just be there as they are, without judging them or trying to change, fix or stop them, something new can happen. By becoming more curious and patient with your emotions, they start to soften and often change naturally on their own. Together, we can start to understand more about what is happening underneath these feelings and why that might be.

​I will help you to notice and turn towards what is happening inside, so you can hear what your feelings are trying to do for you and so the changes that come can feel gentle and kind. You start to build a kinder relationship towards your emotions and you start to see that all your emotions are actually on your side. Having someone beside you while you get curious can make a real difference. 

Feel intrigued and like to give it a try?  Send me an email.

Walk and Talk therapy

Walking alongside one another, in beautiful natural surroundings, encourages a sense of calm which in turn aids new perspectives. Difficult issues can feel much easier to talk about outside and silences can feel natural, bringing space to reflect.

Walk and talk therapy is much more than just counselling outside, while you’re walking. We are able to breathe more deeply, slowing our pulse, resetting our nervous system. We are made for being outside, in touch with the wind, the sun, the rain, the bird song. Our systems feel at home and we can start to relax. Our animal bodies need to be in nature. It helps us get in touch with wider perspectives - like a bird of prey flying over, seeing far and wide. Exploring ourselves and our difficulties from this place is a different experience to exploring yourself in a room. Metaphors abound. Silences feel natural, there is time to pause and reflect, time to just be. These are sadly rarer and rarer things in our busy world, but we can still find this connection inside us when we are outside in nature.

I am an experienced, person centred counsellor. We talk about whatever you choose and go at a pace that suits you. Sometimes it can be very clear to you what you want to talk about and at other times, you may just have a general sense of something but it all feels a bit unclear. Either way is absolutely fine. You don’t have to know what to say. In fact, often not knowing can be really good - I can help you sense into it and together we can understand more and find out. As we talk, I am there with you to help you sense more of what is there, how you feel about it all, helping you explore. I am there with you, closely, gently guiding the exploring process, helping bring awareness and enquiring about feelings that may be helpful to notice, encouraging you to notice and stay with these feelings longer, whilst also keeping awareness of the impact of staying with these feelings longer, allowing new things to emerge.  

At the centre of therapy is our relationship together and this is where I would start…with getting to know you and spending time listening to what is going on for you. Over time, being able to talk to someone in an accepting, non-judgemental and confidential place can feel safe and liberating, allowing you to acknowledge and explore parts of yourself that you may not have felt safe enough to be present to before. 

Our first session together is primarily an opportunity for you to tell me what made you get in touch and what you would like to get out of counselling. This session can help you get a sense of whether you would like to work with me. 

I feel it is an absolute honour to be a counsellor, to connect deeply with people, share their inner worlds and help them bring about lasting change.

I believe that everyone is able to make positive changes to lead to a happier, more fulfilling life and that we all need some help at sometime to make that happen.

I have successfully worked with clients on both a long and short term basis, with a range issues including:

Depression, low self esteem, lack of motivation and feeling sad
Anxiety, stress and feeling overwhelmed
ADHD
Family issues
Stress at work
Bereavement and loss
Relationship issues
Trauma and traumatic events
Long term illness
Anger issues
Menopause
OCD

Where do the sessions take place and how much do they cost?

Walk and Talk: on the edge of Stroud, usually on Rodborough or Minchinhampton Common.

In a room in central Stroud

On Zoom or on the phone: …anywhere! (provided you have good internet or phone signal and somewhere private to talk from)

Or a mixture of Walk and Talk and online/ phone to suit you.

Each session is £50 for one hour.

Book a free 15 minute no obligation call on the phone or video call to suit you.

If you're not sure and you'd like to find out more, please email me to book a free no obligation 15 minute introductory call to get a sense of whether working with me feels right for you.

What happens next?

If you have any questions or would like to book a session, please send me an email or phone me on  07527 188497 and leave a message if there is no answer. You can also have a look at my website.

I work with clients, long and short term, who come with issues including:

• Depression, low self esteem
• Anxiety, stress and feeling overwhelmed
• Stress at work
• Loss and bereavement
• Redundancy
• Relationship issues
• Long term illness
• Anger issues
• Family issues
• People seeking refuge

£50 = 60 minutes

During a counselling session, difficult feelings may arise. I feel it is important to end each session feeling emotionally fit to go about the rest of your day. If you would like, I offer a variety of grounding and relaxation techniques as an option which help you to go away from each session feeling safe and held. This allows you to re-calibrate in the new found space you have created in your life. These techniques take a few minutes which is why I offer a minimum of 60 minutes for each counselling session rather than the usual 50 minutes. I feel it is important to take our time and not feel rushed.

I have some concessionary spaces, so please contact me for details.